Antenna belt and radio receiver



May 17, 1949.

Filed March 19, 1948 o. G. CAFRELLA ET AL 2, 70,687

ANTENNA BELT AND RADIO RECEIVER 3 Sheets-Sheet l 122124222302 3.- owzm afiafflezia, James E. Vbfomi, by 77mm, 277% viioflnegm May 17, 1949. o. G. CAFRELLA ETAL 2,470,587

ANTENNA BELT AND RADIO RECEIVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1948 uilfoaneg vs May 17, 1949. o. G. CAFRELLA ETAL ANTENNA BELT AND RADIO RECEIVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 19, 1948 08 81822 6. James E. Vb n3 fliorney s Patented May 17, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTENNA BELT v'AND RADIO :RE-GEIWER Orrin G. Cafrella and James Votour, Medford, Mass.

Application:March 19, 1948, Serial No. 15,926

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a combination antenna belt and radio receiver, and pertains more particularly to portable radio receiving apparatus adapted to be worn on the person of the user in a comfortable, convenient and in conspicuous manner.

The principal .purpose o-f our invention to provide a small, light weight, compact and-efiicient personal radio receivingset-designedespecially to be worn underthe coat of a police-ofiicer, whereby the patrolmanmay, atall times, receive messages from police headquarters or other transmitting stations operated by the police 'iorce, without conspicuously disclosing to others that he is equipped with aradio receiver.

'A particular object of the invention is to furnish a receiving set comprisingan antenna belt in which the antenna wires and battery lead wires are concealed and protected, :and connected to terminals constituting elements of snap fasteners or other separable connections oathe-outside of the belt; an encased radio set-preferably housed -in a holster and having exterior terminals (providing complemental :fastener elements 'for "attachment to certain of the belt terminals; and'a second-case preferably housed in a holstencontaining batteries for operating the radio "receiver and having exterior terminals providing complemental fastener elements for attachment to other terminals on the antenna "belt.

Another object is tozprovide a radio-receiver in which all of the operative parts are comp'actly and accessibly mounted on a rigid ch'ass'is housed in a shielding metal case, the encased chass'is fitting in a leather holster and being detachably fastened to the antenna belt "as aforesaid.

A further'object i's to provide an-en'cased-radio "chassis which is lroun' ded outwardly at its upper end, and a covering holstersimilarlyrounded-or beveled, and a 'holsteredbattery case also 'bevled outwardlyat its'upper end, so that the "coat "of the wearer will n'ct display a sharper-conspicuous bulge when the apparatus'isfastene'dtohis belt.

A recommended embodiment of the "invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, but it will be understood thatfth'e structural details of the apparatus herein illustrated and described may'bevarie'd without depar'tingfrom the essence of this invention as defined in the appended "claims. In the "drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a two-ply antenna belt and radio receiver, prepared in accordance with this invention. the-plies of the belt being .partially separated to indicate the normallyconceale'd antenna and wiring;

Fig. 2 is-a perspective view of'theantenn-a belt with theplies stitched together, but with thereoeiver holster and battery-holster.detached I from the belt, to :indicate the terminal-fastener elements;

Fig. -3 is a perspective view of the radio receiver, with themetalcasing thereof partially removed from 'the chassis, and a portion of the receiver broken away;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsection of the encased and holstered receiver, taken on line 4-4 .of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a .transverse section on line 5+5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinalsection of the encased and holstered batteries, taken on line 6-6 oi'Fig. '7, one of the batteries being shown in elevation;

7 is a transverse section on 'line'l-i of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical-section on line =8 -8 of Fig. 7.

'In the particular embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustration, the improved, personal radio receiving apparatuscomprises, in general, the-antennabelt .lil having inner and outer plies I 2 i and lI 3,-respectively and a conventional buckle [4 for fastening the belt :around the waist of the wearer; .aleather holster [iii-containing the radio receiver case; .aJeather-hOlster 1'6 containing the iencase'di batteries "for the receiver; a loop antenna l"I-.and-battery Wiring [8, carried on the inner side of the outer 'belt ,ply 13 (Fig. '1) and normally covered-and concealed 'by'the attached inner ply [2 (Fig. 2) ,connected. to thereceiverin holster l5 and to thebatteries'in'holder "l6; and an output .wire lial'leading from the receiver through the back of holster l5 (Fig. 4) and'to an ear-phone '19 carried by headset 20.

The loop antenna I! may be cemented or otherwise attached-to the back of the outerbelt ply, and'its ends are secured to a pair of terminals 21 suitablymounted in .an insulated terminal plate 22 of thin fiber, plastic material or the like, said tterminals extending through the outer .belt pl-y .and forming part of,-.or connected to, separable fastenerelements such. as thegpair of socketparts M (Fig. 2) of a pair of-sn-ap .fasteners. The wiring l8.is connected to the ,pairs of terminal 23 and also mounted in the plate :22 and projecting through thebelt ply .to provide exterior snap sockets "23 and .24 respectively; and said wiring is alsoconnected to complemental pairs of iterminals 25, -26 and '21 one second insulated terminal vplate 28 carried .bythe belt ply IS. The terminal plates areirelatively rigidfor the secure attachmentof the receiver-caseand the battery case to theatoresaid snapisockets, as hereinafter explained; andrsaidplates, as-wellas the antenna and wiring are concealed when the two plies of the'belt. are marginally stitched together (Fig. .2) in a conventional manner.

The backs oftherespectiveholsters l5 and '16, have openings exposing insulating. plates 129 and aflixed to the metal cases therewithin. The exposed sides of the plate 29 has pairs of stud elements 3|, 33 and 34 adapted to snap into the pairs of socket elements 2|, 23' and 24 respectively; and the exposed side of the plate 30 has pairs of stud elements 35, 36 and 31 adapted to snap into the pairs of socket elements 25, 26' and 27, respectively. Said stud elements also constitute terminals for the radio receiver wiring and the battery wiring within the holsters I5 and I6, and the snap fastener attachments provide a detachable mechanical support for the receiver and battery cases contained in the respective holsters, as well as an electrical connection between the antenna and wiring between the plies of the belt, and the receiver and battery cases, respectively.

The attachment of the respective holsters I5 and I6 may be made additionally secure by providing encircling straps 38 and 39 having ends provided with socket elements 49 and 4! respectively, which engage upon stud elements 42 and 43 riveted to the outer belt ply. Several of said stud elements may be provided, as shown, to permit adjustment of the tension of the holster straps. Similar straps (not shown) having one end stitched to the belt and the other end buckled thereto on the opposite side of the holster, may obviously be used in place of the straps 38 and 39. The open, upper ends of the respective holsters are normally closed by snap-buttoned flaps 44 and 45 respectively.

Holster I5 contains, as aforesaid, the encased radio receiver (Figs. 4 and 5), comprising a chassis 46 of aluminum or other light metal, and a telescoping cover 41 of similar metal. The chassis consists of a flat back plate 48 having an integral end member 49, the side margins of the plate and end member being .bent to form flanges 50 and 5! respectively. The cover 41 has a front 5,

52, sides 53 formed with inturned flanges 54, a rounded upper end 55, and an open bottom end into which the chassis slides, as indicated in Fig. 3. The cover may be fastened in closed position by screws threading in openings 56 and 57! on the cover sides 53 and chassis end flanges 54. The cover 4'! and the back plate 48 of the chassis constitute a case enclosing the elements of the receiving apparatus.

A shelf 58 is suitably mounted on the back plate 48 to provide mounts for the radio tubes and transformers of a conventional radio receiving set (for example, a four tube superheterodyne receiver), and also to provide an underlying wiring channels for wires leading to the terminals 3|, 33 and 34 on the terminal plate 29 attached to the casing plate 48. Other elements of the receiver, such as the switch member 59, may be mounted on the end member 49 of the chassis. As the structural electrical details of the receiver are not essential to the present invention, they are illustrated somewhat diagrammatically, and need not be particularly described herein. It may be mentioned, however, that the variable condensers 60 and GI may be adjusted by inserting a screwdriver through suitable openings 62 in the chassis end 49, without removing the casing 41 from the chassis; and that said openings may be normally closed by removable snap buttons 63. It will be understood that the switch lever 52 projects through the end flange 49 and also through a suitable opening in the bottom of the holster IS.

The encased chassis is inserted in the holster with the rounded end of the case uppermost, so

that said end (and the holster flap which rests thereon) curves outwardly and downwardly from the antenna belt, when the holstered receiver is attached thereto as previously explained. This formation softens any pronounced bulge in an officers coat worn over the holster.

Holster l6 contains, as aforesaid, the encased batteries (Figs. 6-8), which include the A battery 64 and the B battery 65, housed in a metal case 66 having an opening exposing the terminals 35, 36 and 3'! on the terminal plate 30 which is suitably mounted on the outside of the case 66. The battery leads are connected to appropriate terminals. Insulating plate 30 has more terminals than are required for the battery leads because the arrangement of the terminals on the plates 29 and 30, and the wiring between said plates, inside the belt, is preferably such that the receiver case and the batter case may be interchangeably attached to either of said terminal plates, thereby avoiding any confusion or mistake on the part of the user in connecting the holsters to the antenna belt. The top 61 of the case 66 is inclined outwardly and downwardly, so that the holster flap 45 resting thereon does not produce a pronounced bulge in the ofiicers coat.

A personally worn radio receiving set comprising the antenna belt, detachable receiver case and detachable battery case herein described, is simple and economical to manufacture and provides efiicient and inconspicuous apparatus for the reception of radio messages by police oflicers and others whose duty or occupation requires a receiver satisfying the objects of this invention.

Various modifications are possible in the apparatus herein shown, within the scope of this invention; and it will be appreciated that the antenna belt may be worn outside the ofiicers coat when concealment of the apparatus is not essential. In such case, a shoulder strap may be suitably connected to the belt, if desired. It will also be appreciated that the leather holsters are not essential and may be omitted, if desired, for the metal cases containing the radio receiver and the batteries may be attached to the belt Without the holsters and may be given a decorative exterior finish.

We claim:

1. Radio receiving apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-ply antenna belt having a pair of terminal plates disposed between its plies in spaced relation, each plate having terminals passing through the outer belt ply and formed exteriorly as elements of separable fasteners, an antenna disposed between the belt plies and connected to a pair of terminals on one of said plates, bridging wires also disposed between said belt plies and connected to complemental terminals on the respective plates, a radio receiver and a case enclosing the same, a set of batteries and a case enclosing the same, each of said cases having a terminal plate having terminals electrically connected to the receiver and batteries respectively, and the exposed portions of said terminals being formed as elements of separable fasteners adapted to engage the terminals of the respective terminal plates of said belt, whereby the encased receiver and the encased set of batteries may be mechanically and electrically connected to the antenna belt by engaging said fasteners.

2. Radio receiving apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-ply antenna belt having a pair of terminal plates disposed between its plies in spaced relation, each plate having terminals passing through the outer belt ply and formed exteriorly as elements of separable fasteners, an antenna disposed between the belt plies and connected to a pair of terminals on one of said plates, bridging wires also disposed between said belt plies and connected to complemental terminals on the respective plates, a radio receiver and a holster enclosing the same, a set of batteries and a holster enclosing the same each of said holsters having an opening exposing a terminal plate having terminals electrically connected to the receiver and batteries respectively, and the exposed portions of said terminals being formed as elements of separable fasteners adapted to engage the terminals of the respective terminal plates of said belt, whereby the holstered receiver and the holstered set of batteries may be mechanically and electrically connected to the antenna belt by engaging said fasteners.

3. Radio receiving apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-ply antenna belt having a pair of terminal plates disposed between its plies in spaced relation, each plate having terminals passing through the outer belt ply and formed exteriorly as elements of separable fasteners, an antenna disposed between the belt plies and connected to a pair of terminals on one of said plates, bridging wires also disposed between said belt plies and connected to complemental terminals on the respective plates, a radio receiver and a holster enclosing the same, a set of batteries and a holster enclosing the same each of said holsters having an opening exposing a terminal plate having terminals electrically connected to the receiver and batteries respectively, and the exposed portions of said terminals being formed as elements of separable fasteners adapted to engage the terminals of the respective terminal plates of said belt, whereby the holstered receiver and the holstered set of batteries may be mechanically and electrically conected to the antenna belt by engaging said fasteners, said receiver comprising a chassis and a removable case therefor and said case having an inclined upper end, a case housing the set of batteries and having an inclined upper end, and the respective holsters having top flaps normally engaging said inclined case ends, whereby the tops of the holsters are inclined outwardly and downwardly when connected to said belt to avoid an abrupt bulge in an overhanging coat of the wearer of the belt.

4. Radio receiving apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-ply antenna belt having a pair of terminal plates disposed between its plies in spaced relation, each plate having terminals passing through the outer belt ply and formed exteriorly as elements of separable fasteners, an antenna disposed between the belt plies and connected to a pair of terminals on one of said plates, bridging wires also disposed between said belt plies and connected to complemental terminals on the respective plates, a radio receiver and a holster enclosing the same, a set of batteries and a holster enclosing the same, each of said holsters having an opening exposing a terminal plate having terminals electrically connected to the receiver and batteries respectively, and the exposed portions of said terminals being formed as elements of separable fasteners adapted to engage the terminals of the respective terminal plates of said belt, whereby the holstered receiver and the holstered set of batteries may be mechanically and electrically connected to the antenna belt by engaging said fasteners, each of the terminal plates in the belt having three pairs of complemental terminals, and the bridging wiring between said plates interconnecting corresponding pairs of said terminals, so that the holstered receiver and the holstered battery set are interchangeably applicable to said belt terminal plates.

5. Radio receiving apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-ply antenna belt having a pair of terminal plates disposed between its plies in spaced relation, each plate having terminals passing through the outer belt ply and formed exteriorly as elements of separable fasteners, an antenna disposed between the belt plies and connected to a pair of terminals on one of said plates, bridging wires also disposed between said belt plies and connected to complemental terminals on the respective plates, a radio receiver, a case therefor and a holster enclosing the same, a set of batteries, a case therefor and a holster enclosing the same, each of said holsters having an opening exposing a terminal plate mounted on the respective cases and having terminals electrically connected to the receiver and batteries respectively, and the exposed portions of said terminals being formed as elements of separable fasteners adapted to engage the terminals of the respective terminal plates of said belt, whereby the encased and holstered receiver and the encased and holstered set of batteries may be mechanically and electrically connected to the antenna belt by engaging said fasteners.

6. Radio receiving apparatus of the character described, comprising a two-ply antenna belt having a pair of terminal plates disposed between its plies in spaced relation, each plate having terminals passing through the outer belt ply and formed exteriorly as elements of the separable fasteners, an antenna disposed between the belt plies and connected to a pair of terminals on one of said plates, bridging wires also disposed between said belt plies and connected to complemental terminals on the respective plates, a radio receiver and a holster enclosing the same, a set of batteries and a holster enclosing the same, each of said holsters having an opening exposing a terminal plate having terminals electrically connected to the receiver and batteries respectively, and the exposed portions of said terminals being formed as elements of separable fasteners adapted to engage the terminals of the respective terminal plates of said belt, whereby the holstered receiver and the holstered set of batteries may be mechanically and electrically connected to the antenna belt by engaging said fasteners, the receiver having a switch lever projecting through the bottom of its holster.

ORRIN G. CAFREILA. JAMES E. VOTOUR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,070,112 Bowles Feb. 9, 1937 2,101,033 Mashber et al. Dec. '7, 1937 2,285,088 Cover June 2, 1942 

